20 Dead In Bus Fire Near Kurnool Of Andhra Pradesh

20 persons died after a fire broke out on a private bus near Chinnatekuru village on the outskirts of Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, early Friday morning.

The condition of four other passengers remains critical.

The bus, operated by Vemuri Kaveri Travels, was traveling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru.

The bodies of the deceased will be handed over to their families after DNA testing.

According to the police, the blaze began when the bus's fuel tank ignited following a collision with a motorcycle.

At the time of the fire, there were 39 adults, four children and one unidentified individual on board. 24 passengers, including both drivers, managed to escape.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the bus driver struck a motorcycle and failed to stop, dragging it beneath the vehicle. The friction caused the bus's fuel tank to catch fire, engulfing the entire vehicle in flames.

Police said that there was negligence on the parts of both the bus driver and the motorcyclist which contributed to the accident.

Meanwhile, new information has emerged regarding the condition of the bus and its outstanding traffic fines. Transport department officials revealed that the vehicle had unpaid fines totaling Rs 23,120, pending since January 2024. Records show 16 traffic violations by the bus between January 27 and October 9 this year, including nine instances of entering no-entry zones. Additional fines were also issued for speeding and reckless driving.